Tunisia Targets 15,500 Tonnes of Poultry Meat in October as Imports Support Supply

October production expected to cover demand

Tunisia expects poultry-meat production to reach 15,500 tonnes in October 2026, up from about 11,000 tonnes at present. The projected increase should be sufficient to cover consumption needs and ease the supply pressure that previously affected the domestic market. The recovery is important for poultry farmers, processors and retailers entering the final months of the year, when reliable availability will determine whether recent price increases persist.

The improvement follows an earlier deficit caused by the deaths of a significant number of birds during periods of high temperatures. Ibrahim Nefzaoui, president of Tunisia’s National Chamber of Poultry and White Meat Traders, said on National Radio that the shortfall had been absorbed after the authorities scheduled imports of poultry meat. The episode highlights the exposure of local poultry output to extreme heat and the speed with which bird mortality can reduce marketable volumes.

Imports scheduled for November and December

Four containers carrying 290 tonnes each are due to arrive in Tunisia during November and December, according to Nefzaoui. These imported volumes will follow the expected October increase in domestic production, providing an additional supply buffer rather than serving as the only response to the shortage. The timing could help prevent renewed tightness after the October production cycle and support continuity for wholesalers, food-service buyers and household consumers.

AllAfrica reported that Nefzaoui described the current supply of poultry and other white meat as regular, with no problems being recorded. His statement, made on 18 September 2026, indicates that the immediate deficit has eased before the planned shipments arrive. For domestic producers, however, the imports add a competing source of supply and could limit the scope for prices to remain elevated if local output reaches the projected level.

Price pressure concentrated in informal outlets

The expected rise in output is also intended to stabilize retail prices. A separate report on the production outlook said the price of poultry escalope should not exceed 20 Tunisian dinars per kilogram. Nefzaoui said the increases observed in the market were not occurring at organized retail outlets but were concentrated at unregulated points of sale. This distinction matters because it suggests that at least part of the price pressure reflects retail-market practices rather than a uniform shortage across the formal supply chain.

The combination of 15,500 tonnes of projected October production and shipments planned for November and December gives Tunisia two sources of near-term supply support. The main test will be whether the production forecast is realized after the heat-related losses and whether imported meat reaches distribution channels on schedule. Stable formal-market prices would benefit processors and consumers, while poultry farmers will be watching whether the additional volumes weaken farm-gate prices as supply normalizes.